With most urban people having few encounters with truly wild animals these days, a lack of appreciation for the strength and, at times, ferocity of large predators unfortunately develops. People who take risks around these creatures sometimes learn the dangers too late.

In this video, a woman steps out of her car in a drive through safari in China and is attacked by a tiger. (Warning: Graphic Content)

At our ExpedMed events, we discuss animal attacks-- how to treat them, but also how to prevent them. Learn from our experts why wild animals should be respected and how best to protect yourself and your travel companions.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Will Smith, Medical Director of Teton National Park and Teton County Search and Rescue in Jackson, Wyoming is coming to Little Rock as a member of our ExpedMed faculty!

Dr. Smith has extensive experience in Wilderness Medicine and Search and Rescue. He has managed mass casualty incidents at high altitude, and has completed multiple deployments overseas as a Lt. Colonel in the US Army Reserve Medical Corps.

We are honored to have Dr. Smith's involvement in our Expedition Medicine National Conference and look forward to hearing his lectures this March!

Dr. Smith's complete bio:

Dr. Smith practices Emergency Medicine in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and is clinical WWAMI faculty for the University of Washington School of Medicine, as well as the Medical Director for the US National Park Service. Locally, he serves as the Co-Medical Director for Grand Teton National Park, Teton County Search & Rescue, Bridger Teton National Forest, and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS. Dr. Smith also serves as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps, recently completing his 3rd Middle East deployment. LTC Smith has practiced medicine around the world on 6 continents, from the 'Baghdad ER' to Easter Island. His combat experience combined with his pre-hospital EMS experience as a Paramedic, and his technical Search and Rescue skills have lead to numerous speaking engagements at Wilderness and EMS conferences/seminars around the world. Dr. Smith has also been appointed to several national committees (American Heart Association), authored numerous book chapters and consensus guidelines on Wilderness and Rescue Medicine, and serves as a Subject Matter Expert for DARPA. He has founded and runs Wilderness and Emergency Medicine Consulting (WEMC), LLC. More information can be found at www.wildernessdoc.com .

The faculty we invite to our ExpedMed events are true experts in their field. In this video, Dr. Tim Erickson discusses venomous snake bites and how to treat them. Tim is a clinical toxicologist at Harvard and will be coming to Little Rock this March to teach in our Expedition Medicine National Conference. Be sure to register early for our event. Space is limited!

In the summer of 2009, I was working in my local Emergency Department when my cell phone informed me of an incoming text.

"At 14,500 feet. Preparing to summit tomorrow. All is well," read the text.

"Great," I thought, "and here I am dealing with sniffles and low back pain."

The text had come in from the face of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the continent of Africa and one of the famed "Seven Summits." The sender was my good friend Dr. David Townes who was helping lead a group of physicians to the summit of Kili for an ExpedMed CME event.

I was happy for Dave and excited for the CME participants, but also insanely jealous.

Kilimanjaro is one of those romantic "must do" experiences for adventures around the world. It stands just over 19,000 feet in northeastern Tanzania and rises independently from the plains of the surrounding region. Mentioned by famed writers like Hemmingway (The Snows of Kilimanjaro), this magnificent peak towers over the African landscape and is the backdrop to many classic safari portraits.

I am pleased to say that Dave and the rest of the ExpedMed CME group made it to the top of the mountain in 2009. The participants enjoyed it so much, we swore we'd lead another group back to Kili in the near future, but of course, as often happens, months turn into years and no new ExpedMed Kilimanjaro climbs were scheduled-- until now.

In the spring of 2012 we have scheduled another CME climb up Kilimanjaro. The dates are March 24-April 6, 2012 . Our outfitters are once again our esteemed friends at Tusker Trail. Details of the CME trip can been seen at this Tusker link.

Find more information including pictures from the last Kili CME climb can be found on the ExpedMed Kilimanjaro CME Adventure page under the "Expedition & Wilderness Medicine Adventure" tab above. Here's a video about this majestic mountain: